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Wood, Gattis impress in Braves' wins

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Alex Wood allowed an unearned run in four innings for the Atlanta Braves in a 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in a game between split squads.

In Jupiter, Evan Gattis hit his first homer of spring training, a fourth-inning solo drive as the Braves’ other team beat the Miami Marlins 3-1.

Wood went into spring training as the projected fifth starter in the Braves’ rotation, but after injuries to Mike Minor, Kris Medlen, and Brandon Beachy that might keep them out for the start of the season, and in Medlen’s case, likely much longer, Wood is becoming much more important.

He struck out two Wednesday and has not allowed an earned run in nine innings this spring.

Chris Young allowed two runs in three innings in his latest effort to crack the Nationals’ starting rotation. He spent all of last season in the minors. Young struck out three and allowed a home run to Freddie Freeman.

Gattis batted .368 with six homers during spring training last year — a fast start he attributed to playing winter ball. He skipped winter ball this offseason.

Now Gattis feels like he’s starting to find his groove. He went 1 for 3 and raised his average to .226.

“That’s what he can do for us swing the bat and put one in the seats real quick,” Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

B.J. Upton’s hit in the fourth inning was the first off the Marlins’ Henderson Alvarez since Cameron Rupp’s seventh-inning single for Philadelphia on Sept. 24.

Atlanta scored two unearned runs off Steve Cishek in the eighth. Rob Brantly homered off Cody Martin with two outs in the ninth.

For starters

Wood was sharp once again in his longest outing of spring training. He knows he will be counted on at the start of the season because of the injuries.

“No matter where I start, it has no effect in terms of my mentality,” Wood said. “If you asked me at the start of spring training, I would tell you I was ready to go on opening day.”

Wood said he feels fine as spring training reaches the halfway mark.

“I’m not trying to do anything special,” he said. “We were playing the Nationals today, and I’ll see them a lot this year, so I didn’t want to give anything away. It’s coming together.”

In Jupiter, Yunesky Maya allowed three hits in three scoreless innings. The 32-year-old right-hander is likely to begin the season in the minors.

“He’s a guy we are looking for, if he does not break camp with us to go to Atlanta, maybe somewhere down in the middle of the season he can help us,” Gonzalez said.

Trainer’s room

Pitchers Gavin Floyd and Johnny Venters both threw bullpen sessions as they attempt to recover from elbow ligament-replacement surgery.

Looking ahead

The Braves’ Freddy Garcia will start today against the St. Louis Cardinals. The veteran is looking for a chance at earning a spot in the Braves’ rotation.

He pitched briefly in Atlanta last season.

Power surge

After hitting only three homers in its first 14 games, Atlanta has found some power. Freddie Freeman, who hit 23 homers last season, connected for his first of spring training on Wednesday.

Dan Uggla has two in the past three games, and Jason Heyward has hit three in the exhibition season.